Climber or hiker assist devices



Dec. 3, 1968 A. R|N|NGER 3,414,083

CLIMBER OR HIKER ASSIST DEVICES Filed April 5, 1967 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,414,083 CLIMBER R HIKER ASSIST DEVICES Arland Rininger, R.F.D. 1, Wadsworth, Ohio 44256 Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 628,099 1 Claim. (Cl. 182-221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Title-indicated devices, each pair having two L-shaped side members adjustably joined at their overlapped base portions, each member carrying a vertical-ly adjustable spike, each device having two securing straps or the like embracing leg and foot portions of the user, and being looped through paired holes in respective side members.

This invention relates to a new or improved instrument or device for assisting hikers, mountain climbers, ice fishermen, etc., for example, safely and effectually to negotiate steep or generally slippery or icy surfaces, which instrument or device is strong but of light weight and entirely stable when in use; can be worn comfortably at all times, and can serve effectually as a splint or brace in event of injury to associated portions of a foot or leg or in case ankle bracing is needed to enable carefree walking.

More specific objects and novel features of the invention than indicated by the above will be brought out in the following description of the presently preferred form or embodiment.

In the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic perspective assembly view, showing one of a pair of the present subject devices as used or as prepared for use.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing base portions of the assembly according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail central sectional View of a preferred width-adjusting means for the device.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views taken as indicated by lines 4-4 `and 5-5 on FIGS. l and 2 respectively.

As shown by comparison of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the components of one of a pair of devices or assemblies A preferably comprise two sides or side members or rails and 10 shown flared outwardly at their top ends in order to reduce or avoid lliklihood of discomfort to the wearer or damage to clothing. The sides can for example be inexpensively made by bending or forming die operations from rectangular aluminum or magnesium bar stock of identical cross `section throughout (eg. 1" by 3/16") and having L-shaped base portions 11 and 11', thereby constituting rigid but adjustable interconnections between the sides 10 and 10 (further described later) strongly tending to hold the -sides 10 and 10 in approximately parallel position.

Additionally the assemblies A include spike units 12 and 12' (further described later but including adjustable spike rrods 13 and 13'), being mounted rigidly on the sides 10 and 10, and 'lower and upper flexible securing members, shown as straps 15 and 16 respectively, which secure the assemblies A to the foot and leg portions F and L of the user, those portions F and L being represented in broken lines in FIGS. l and 2 as parts of a conventional hiking shoe.

For reference later herein the shoe as partially shown in FIG. 2 has a heel (backstay) portion B, instep (or vamp) portion I, and a lower or downwardly facing arch surface plolrion S extending to the forward face of the heel proper The rigid interconnection means (FIG. 3) formed by the L-shaped portions 11 and 11' of side members 10 and 10' is adjustable by virtue of each part (11 and 11') having "ice equally spaced openings therethrough one series of openings (as of those of 11) being threaded to receive the shanks of fasteners such as screws 20 (two shown) and the other being formed (e.g., countersunk) to receive the preferred flat heads of the fasteners as clearly shown. The specific arrangement just described conserves vertical space requirement for the adjustable interconnection 11, 11 etc., the `space (as defined by surfaces S and H, FIG. 2) being quite limited; and it 1being highly desirable that the interconnection portions shall not normally make contact with the ground or surface to be walked upon.

It is important that each assembly A shall have two spike units, as 12 and 12' (to enable spike-assisted walking on all slopes as will be evident). An operation of walking clockwise around a steep hill with spikes only on the leftward side members, thus lying outwardly of the slope, wou-ld be unassisted by the spikes. The spike members 13 and 13 have appropriately hardened and pointed lower ends and threaded -shank portions 23 snugly occupying threaded openings in blocks or brackets 24 secured to the respective sides 10 and 10 as illustrated, and preferably by slow-curing epoxy cement which is at least as strong and has been proven to be stronger than some more expensive welded joints. The blocks 24 are preferably attached to the side members 10 and 10' along the rearward margins of the sides 10 and 10', thereby leaving room forwardly thereof for strap-receiving slots 25 4at positions (vertically) such that when the `straps 15 of respective assemblies A are secured, as by conventional buckles 26, FIG. 2, or equivalent detachable fasteners, upward force components will be applied to each of the side members 10 and 10', thereby to hold the interconnection portions 11 of each assembly A forwardly in abutment with the arch surface S as illustrated.

The operation just above described requires (a) that the bight or loop portions |15a and 15b of each strap 15 which, as shown by comparison of FIGS. l and 2, will necessarily extend obliquely upwardly in order to embrace the heel or backstay region B and the step region I, respectively, and (b) that the two side-associated portions of each strap 15 will not slip forwardly or rearwardly out of adjusted position. The necessary condition a is attained by placement of the slots 25 adjacent the spikesupporting blocks or brackets 24, about as shown, and condition b is attained by diversion of the strap 15 roughly into stair-step shape, as illustrated at the lower part of FIG. 5. Thus each strap 15, prior to being finally tightened and secured as by its buckle 26, can be easily moved -back and forth in the slots 25 in order to secure abutment of the interconnection portion 11 with the arch surface S; butwhen the strap is secured (buckled as shown at 26), the portions of the strap that are directly associated with the sides 10 and 10' are operatingly secured therto, and as firmly as though riveted to them.

The securing arrangement just above described has a further advantage in that the portions 15C (FIGS. 1 and 5) of the straps 1-5 protect the footwear against wear by direct contact with the metal side members 10 and 10. The liexible securing members 15 and |16 can of course, be of any suitable material, and do not need to be of rectangular cross section.

The screw-threaded spike members 13 and 13 are suitably manipulatable to adjust the elevations of their downwardly pointed ends as required for assistance in walking. The preferred manipulation means comprise slots 28 at the tops of the screws for engagement by screw-drivertype tools (or coins). Additionally flat faces as at 29 on head portions of the screws enable ope-ration by wrench type tools or pliers. The wrench-'faces can be formed by simply cutting away top portions of the screws on four sides or by choosing screw blanks with appropriately enlarged heads if such are desired or are found advisable.

There can, of course, be more than the single illustrated leg-embracing strap 16 on each assembly unit A, each additional one requiring duplication of the illustrated arrangement.

In order to avoid direct wear-producing or discomfort contacting between the side members 10 and 10' and the footwear or clothing, and to provide operatingly positive connections between the side members and associated strap portions 16, each strap, with its calf-associated loop 30 and shin-associated loop 32 (shown with a conventional buckle 38) extends through parallel slots 34 and 35 in the associated side member (10 or 10') to form a positively acting or non-slip attachment loop 36, FIGS. 1 and 4. As described in connection with strap 15, FIG. 5, portions of the strap 16 are nally diverted into the stairstep or zig-zag shape as illustrated by FIG. 4.

The above described arrangement of flexible securing members 15 etc. and 16 etc. results in the feet, legs and clothing of the user are amply protected against damage or discomfort such as would result from contact thereof with the necessarily hard metal parts of the assemblies A, and that, once adjusted into desired positions as described or by appropriate fasteners, the side members 110 and 10 are found comfortable to wear and positively acting in respect to holding the spike members 13 and 13 in stable working positions.

Each assembly A, designed as described, weighs less than one pound; hence, via the available improved traction assistance and afforded security against slipping, the net drain on physical forces in almost every type of activity involved is greatly decreased over such as would ordinarily obtain. When the assemblies A are used as splints or braces, any desired amount of padding and/ or taping can of course be used in addition to the securing means herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A climber or hiker assisting device, comprising, when in use, two elongated upright metal side members adapted to extend on respective sides of a boot or shoe and having attachment means for detachably securing flexible straps or the like thereto, respectively arranged to extend over an instep portion of the foot of the user and around his leg thereabove, said members having respective L-shaped elongated base portions extending oppositely of each other under the arch portion of such boot or shoe in mutually overlapped relationship, each of the base portions having a series of equally spaced openings therethrough, those of one series being internally screw threaded; and screws removably occupying selected openings in a manner to permit variation in position of the side members toward and away from each other; each side member having a bracket rigid therewith near its respective base portion, the brackets being internally screw threaded on generally upright axes, and screws adjustably occupying the-threads of respective brackets and having, respective downwardly projecting spike portions for operation below the brackets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 874,446 12/ 1907 Slater 3 4 1,150,372 8/1915 .Tones 182--221 2,632,440 3/1953 Hauser 128-80 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,462 3/ 1922 Great Britain.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

